The City of Cape Town has continued the funding for the Presidential Employment Programme (PEP) and is hoping that the National Treasury continues the support once it comes to a close at the end of August.
Since January 2022, the PEP has resulted in NPO partners providing over 532 (426 workers and 106 supervisors) work opportunities for homeless individuals combined with psychosocial support, housing support and active referrals to other services.
“We anticipate, subject to approval of grant funding by National Treasury, that this project will be housed within the Economic Growth work stream in future phases. The Enterprise and Investment Department will continue to work with Social Development and Early Childhood Development to ensure that the psychosocial interventions are of a high enough quality to make a difference,” said James Vos, mayoral committee member for economic growth.
Chief executive officer of U-Turn, Jean-Ray Knighton Fitt says they are hopeful.
“Based on our experiences with the City and PEP so far, I’m cautiously optimistic,” Mr Knighton Fitt said.
Caryn Gootkin, the fundraiser for NGO Soupertroopers, is concerned about what will happen to the homeless who have jobs through PEP.
“That funding is about to come to an end so the big question is what comes after that? There is talk of a renewed contract but that funding has to be approved by national government which it can only do later in the year, so come the end of August the employees are without a job, without income which means they can no longer pay their rent,” said Ms Gootkin.
The City’s mayoral committee member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross, says PEP funding has been helpful.
“There is no doubt the PEP funding has helped us not only create jobs, but change lives in the process. Assisting the homeless on all levels is a priority for the City and with the additional funding, we are able to restore some dignity to the lives of those living on the street,” said Ms Van der Ross.
According to National Treasury the information, regarding PEP, will be published in the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and Budget.
